Virgin Atlantic Plans Small-Jet Business Service

British airline Virgin Atlantic said it plans to offer luxury flights on small business jets, a service it is calling Virgin Jetset. Although plans are still in an early stage, Virgin hopes to open Jetset routes from London to New York, Washington and Los Angeles in aircraft that would carry no more than 18 people, the company said. The smaller jets would fly faster and higher--at 45,000 feet instead of the usual 35,000 or so--to avoid congestion below. Passengers would each get a sleeper bed and a limousine ride to and from the airport. Virgin hopes to appeal to passengers who might have flown on supersonic Concordes operated by British Airways or Air France. Both airlines have grounded their Concordes since an Air France SST crashed outside Paris in July. Virgin estimates the round-trip fare for a Jetset flight from London to New York at $7,865, compared with as much as $5,720 for a premium ticket on Virgin’s existing aircraft. Virgin also said it will be the first airline to offer passengers access to the Internet and e-mail from every seat on its aircraft.